Cable strap



Jan. 21, 1964 c. c. BELL CABLE STRAP Filed Aug. 1, 1961 INVENTOR.

CH/IRL E5 COX BELL ATTORNEY Uni ed States Patent Chloe 33 liifidh 3,118,200 CABLE STRAP Uharles Cox Bell, 18% Wampanoug Road, East Greenwich, RI. Filed Aug. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 128,509 6 Claims. (Q1. 24-16) This invention relates to cable straps used in binding together a bundle of wires, cables, rods or the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a non-electrical conducting cable strap which automatically adjusts itself within limits to the size of the article to be retained and provides such a strap in which those limits may be varied at the will of the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable strap which is self-locking and amenable to mechanical adjustment or tightening and excessive length cut off.

Still another object of the present invention is to fabricate an adjustable, self locking cable strap out of molded nylon material, whereby an inexpensive, tough, long wearing, easy to ship, easy to handle strap or binding clamp is provided which possesses great strength, elasticity and non-electrical conducting qualities.

And still another object of the present invention is to provide a cable strap or binding clamp which is readily adjustable to units or strands of material of similar or different thickness and to secure the same together and that may be readily loosened, if desired, to permit Withdrawal of some of the strands, the strap thereafter being easily and quickly tightened again without impairing its efiiciency and without the use of buckles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a cable strap with a head which is readily accepted and held in a combination strap tightening and cut off tool.

And another object of the present invention is to provide a cable strap with a novel self looking or securing device for one or more cables or wire strands.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed for securing cables together. Such heretofore known devices have not always been satisfactory because the construction of the cable straps and the self locking features of such cable straps did not lend themselves to a combination strap tightening and length cut off tool. It follows that prior known straps required manual manipulation for tightening and excessive length cut off. Prior known cable straps have been less positive in holding qualities and structure and are more expensive to fabricate than the instant cable strap.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in part and be pointed out in part in the following specification and claims.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts in the following drawings, in which:

FiGURE l is a plan view of the new and improved cable strap.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line Z2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the cable strap head.

FIGURE 5 is a pers ective view similar to FIGURE 4; the view being taken from a direction opposite to that of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view showing the cable strap applied to strands of wire.

FIGURE 7 is a medial cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 6.

FEGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 8 3 of FIGURE 7.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein is illustrated a cable strap embodying the principles of the present invention.

The cable strap, generally indicated by reference numeral Ill, is in the form of an elongated relatively thin and narrow flat strip 14 of plastic flexible material of rectangular cross section. Polyethylene or nylon is such material because it inherently possesses elastic deformation physical characteristics. It is also non-electrical conducting. One end of the fiat strip 14 is provided with a hollow head, generally indicated by reference numeral 12. The other end of the flat strip is provided with a tongue Sll having serrations 51 which may be gripped by a combination tightening and cut off tool (not shown).

As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the cable strap 1 is adapted to be elastically deformed so as to be wrapped or looped around an article or articles to be secured, such as a group of cables or wire strands 16. Opposite end portions of fiat strip 14 are secured together so as to retain the wire strands 16. In order to secure the opposite end portions of the fiat strip 14 together, the hollow head 12 is molded so as to be provided with a rectangular aperture conforming substantially to the rectangular crosssection of flat strip 14.

Hollow head 12 consists of a top 18 and a bottom 20, illustrated as T-shaped with flat strip 14 depending from bottom 2%). All the external surfaces of hollow head 12 will taper toward the pawl projecting end of said hollow head. The T-shape and taper are preferable as an aid to the molding process and as a cooperating structure when used with a tightening tool. Head 12 is also provided with opposite sides 22, 24 which complete the hollow housing. Sides 22, 24 are integrally provided with pawls 26, 28 which are oppositely located in a horizontal plane between the T-shaped top 18 and the T-shaped bottom 20 and in alignment with said rectangular aperture. Pawls 26, 28 are formed with converging inner surfaces 38, 4%), respectively, for purposes which will presently appear. These inner surfaces 38, form, what may be termed, the jaw or ratchet engagement end of pawls 26, 28, respectively. This jaw end of pawls 26, 28 engage a locking shoulder on companion ratchet teeth to complete the ratchet action between the pawls and the ratchet teeth.

The inner rear surfaces of top 18 and bottom 26 are provided with tapered or inclined surfaces 30, 32, respectively, for purposes which will presently appear. The inner surfaces 34, 36 of sides 25, 2%, respectively, are slightly tapered in a direction facing the pawl projections.

Flat strip 14 is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth 52, 44- Which are spaced longitudinally along and projecting from opposite edges of said flat strip. The ratchet teeth 42, 44 are disposed in a common direction. Each of said ratchet teeth 42, 44 are provided with a locking shoulder 43, 45, and an inclined surface 52, 54, respectively. The locking shoulders 43, 45 face toward the hollow head 12, extremity of flat strip 14.

The end opposite the hollow head 12 extremity of flat strip is reduced in width to provide a tongue 56 having serrations 51, for purposes which will presently appear.

When it is desired to clamp or bind a number of wire strands 16 together, flat strap 14 will be wrapped around the wire strands. Tongue 59 will be passed through hollow head 12 with inclined surfaces 3% 32 and converging surfaces 3-8, 4%} guiding tongue 5% so as to centrally position said tongue between pawls 26, 28. Continued movement of fiat strip 14 through head 12 will cause pawls as, 23 to resiliently spread apart or elastically deform outwardly to allow the inclined surfaces 52, 54 on ratchet teeth 42, 44 to pass. However, the resilient char- Patented .lan. 2i, infi l 3 acter of the material will cause the pawls or jaws 26, 28 to instantly converge toward each other as the inclined surfaces 52, 54 are passed. This action provides an instantaneous self locking cable strap.

The inherent characteristics, of the material contemplated to be used in the fabrication of the instant cable strap, such as flexibility and elastic deformation, permit jaws or pawls 25, 28 to be deflected downwardly, in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 4, so as to disengage pawl 26 from teeth 42 and pawl 28 from teeth 42, thereby to loosen fiat strip 14 from locked position. It will be observed in FEGURES 4 and 5 that pawls 26, 28 project beyond top 18 and bottom 2% so as to be movable in the direction of the arrows a distance slightly greater than the thickness, dimension A FIGURE 7, of fiat strip 14.

it is contemplated to utilize the present cable strap 19 with a combination tightening and cut 0% tool. it will be appreciated that the manual lacing of fiat strip 14 through hollow head 12 fails to properly bind wire cables 16 in a really tight loop. A pair of pliers are a poor substitute for a tightening tool designed to cooperate with tongue 5%, serrations 51 and tapered hollow head 12.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention by way of example, it should be realized that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

l. A cable strap for securing together a plurality of wire strands comprising a one piece elongated member of flexible material adapted to be elastically deformed for wrap-around binding engagement with the wire strands, one end of said elongated member having a hollow head having external surfaces consisting of a top, bottom and two tapered opposite sides, said external surfaces tape ing in a common direction, said tapered opposite sides having oppositely located pawls projecting therefrom, said oppositely located pawls having inner surfaces converging toward each other, said top and said bottom having inner rear surfaces inclined toward each other, the other end of said one piece elongated member having a tongue, and a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced longitudinally along and projecting from opposite edges of said one piece elongated member said ratchet teeth having locking shoulders for ratchet engagement with said oppositely located pawls.

2. A cable strap for securing together a plurality of wire strands comprising a flat strip of rectangular crosssection made of flexible plastic material adapted to be elastically deformed for wrap-around binding engagement with the wire strands, a hollow head adjacent one end of said flat strip said hollow head having external surfaces consisting of a T shaped top, T shaped bottom, and two opposite sides, said external surfaces tapering in a common direction, a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced longitudinally along and projecting from opposite edges of said flat strip, each of said ratchet teeth presenting a locking shoulder facing toward the hollow head, said hollow head having a rectangular aperture tapered in the direction of said external surface and adapted to accommodate the free extremity of said fiat strip to permit lacing of the flat strip therethrough to form a loop for receiving the wire strands, and two pawls oppositely located in a horizontal plane, projecting outwardly from said hollow head, and aligned with said rectangular aperture, for ratchet engagement with said ratchet teeth, said locking shoulders resisting a reverse lacing direction of .said flat strip;

3. A cable strap for securing together a plurality of "wire strands comprising an elongated relatively thin and narrow fiat strip of flexible plastic material of rectangular cross section, adapted to be elastically deformed for wraparound binding engagement with the wire strands,

a hollow head adjacent one end and a tongue formed in the other end of said flat strip, a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced longitudinally along and projecting from opposite edges of said fiat strip, each of said ratchet teeth presenting a locking shoulder facing toward the hollow head, said hollow head having a rectangular aperture conforming substantially to the rectangular cross-section of said flat strip, and adapted to accommodate the tongue extremity of the flat strip to permit lacing the fiat strip therethrough to form a loop, said rectangular aperture being tapered in the direction of lacing the tongue to guide the tongue therethrough, said hollow head having external surfaces consisting of a top, a bottom, and two opposite sides, said external surfaces tapering in the direction of lacing of said tongue to accommodate a tightening and cut off tool, and two pawls oppositely located in a horizontal plane, projecting in the direction of the tapering of said external surfaces, and aligned with said rectangular aperture, for ratchet engagement with said ratchet teeth, said locking shoulders resisting a reverse lacing direction of said fiat strip.

4. A cable strap for securing together a plurality of wire strands comprising an elongated relatively thin and narrow fiat strip of flexible plastic material of rectangular cross-section, adapted to be elastically deformed for wraparound binding engagement with the wire strands, a hollow head adjacent one end and a tongue formed in the other end of said flat strip, a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced longitudinally along and projecting from opposite edges of said flat strip, each of said ratchet teeth presenting a locking shoulder facing toward the hollow head, said hollow head having a rectangular aperture conforming substantially to the rectangular cross-section of said flat strip, and adapted to accommodate the tongue extremity of the flat strip to permit lacing the flat strip therethrough to form a loop, said rectangular aperture being tapered in the direction of lacing of the tongue to guide the tongue therethrough, said hollow head being tapered on the outer surface in the direction of lacing of said tongue to accommodate a tightening'and cut off tool, and two pawls oppositely located in a horizontal plane, projecting in the direction of the taper of said hollow head, and aligned with said rectangular aperture, for ratchet engagement with said ratchet teeth through material deformation, said locking shoulders resisting a reverse lacing direction of said flat strip, deformation of said pawls out of engagement With said locking shoulders permitting a reverse lacing direction of said flat strip.

5. A cable strap for securing together a plurality of wire strands comprising an elongated relatively and narrow flat strip of flexible plastic material of rectangular cross section, adapted to be elastically deformed for wrap-around binding engagement with the wire strands, a hollow head adjacent one end and a tongue provided with serrations on the other end of said flat-strip, a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced longitudinally along and projecting from opposite edges of said flat strip, each of said ratchet teeth presenting a locking shoulder facing toward the hollow head, said hollow head having a T-shaped top portion and a T-shaped bottom portion, two pawls oppositely located in a horizontal plane projecting from said hollow head and from between said T -shaped top portion and said T-shaped bottom portion, said hollow head having a rectangular aperture conform ing substantially to the rectangular cross section of. said flat strip, said rectangular aperture being aligned with said two pawls, and adapted to accommodate the tongue extremity of the flat strip and said fiat strip to permit lacing the fiat strip therethrough to form a loop, a bevel in the T-shaped top portion at the rectangular aperture and a bevel in the 'T-shaped bottom portion at the rectangular aperture to guide said tongue into said rectangular aperture, said T-shaped top portion and said T-shaped bottom portion being tapered on the outer surfaces in the direction of lacing of the fiat strip to accommodate amazes said W15 engaging said ratchet th, said locking shot 31'5 through engagement with said pavvls resisting verse lacing direction of said fiat strip.

A cable strap for securing together a plur 'irt! 0r elengatecl relatively th flexible material adapted to be elastically deformed for Wrap-arousal b engage- Wiia the Wire strands, a. hollow h ad farmed in one end of said strip, two oppssitely located pawls in 03% posed relarlenship projec'rirlg from said hollow head, a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced longitudinally along and pro iecting from opeosite sides of said strip, said hell-0w head having a rectangular aperture adapted to accommodate said strip to permit lacing the strip theretllrough to form 2. 1009, aid two oppositely located par /ls being disposed at an angle sbstantially perpendicular to said ratchet teeth whereby said ratchet teeth cooperate with the opposed relati-snship or" said two opposiely located pa s 1s to the movement of said strip through said hollow head to one clirection.

Nagle Feb. 2, 1897 Sept. 10,

Stoner Freysinge S rah OCT. 31, Mar. 24, Aug.

Hallsey Ian. 24, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 70,048 France Oct. 13, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Electronic Design, upper right corner of page Sept. 15, 1957. 

1. A CABLE STRAP FOR SECURING TOGETHER A PLURALITY OF WIRE STRANDS COMPRISING A ONE PIECE ELONGATED MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ADAPTED TO BE ELASTICALLY DEFORMED FOR WRAP-AROUND BINDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WIRE STRANDS, ONE END OF SAID ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A HOLLOW HEAD HAVING EXTERNAL SURFACES CONSISTING OF A TOP, BOTTOM AND TWO TAPERED OPPOSITE SIDES, SAID EXTERNAL SURFACES TAPERING IN A COMMON DIRECTION, SAID TAPERED OPPOSITE SIDES HAVING OPPOSITELY LOCATED PAWLS PROJECTING THEREFROM, SAID OPPOSITELY LOCATED PAWLS HAVING INNER SURFACES CONVERGING TOWARD EACH OTHER, SAID TOP AND SAID BOTTOM HAVING INNER REAR SURFACES INCLINED TOWARD EACH OTHER, THE OTHER END OF SAID ONE PIECE ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A TONGUE, AND A PLURALITY OF RACHET TEETH SPACED LONGITUDINALLY ALONG AND PROJECTING FROM OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID ONE PIECE ELONGATED MEMBER SAID RACHET TEETH HAVING LOCKING SHOULDERS FOR RACHET ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID OPPOSITELY LOCATED PAWLS. 